Charity registered in Scotland SC050781
The Scotland Malawi Partnership is the largest community-based international development network in the UK. We exist to inspire the people and organisations of Scotland to be involved with Malawi in an informed, coordinated and effective way for the benefit of both nations. We do this by providing a forum where ideas, activities and information can be shared on our website, through our online mapping tool and through regular workshops, training events and stakeholder meetings. Today, more than 94,000 Scots and 198,000 Malawians are actively involved in community-led partnerships between the two nations.
The Scotland Malawi Partnership (SMP) is an independent umbrella organisation with >1300 members; a small charity whose vision is to inspire and support Scottish society to work in solidarity with the people of Malawi in an informed, co-ordinated, and equitable way – ever mindful of the legacy of colonial rule - for the benefit of both nations.
We are looking to recruit a new Chief Executive Officer. We need an energetic and inspiring leader with a strategic mindset; someone who is an innovative and decisive strategic policy leader, someone who is passionate to make a difference, someone who can play a crucial role in Scottish internationalism and help define how Scotland engages the global south in the years ahead. This is a wide-ranging role with unashamedly ambitious targets.
Could this be you?
You will be responsible for delivering the SMP’s unique brand of dignified civic partnership between Scotland and Malawi, determining SMP strategy and driving appropriate delivery structures, while continually seeking to bring our Partnership Principles to new groups within youth and civic society.
You will be resilient and have an ability to move quickly in a fast-changing landscape. You will have an ethos of achievement, to speak confidently and persuasively and show an ability to build successful relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, ranging from the President and First Minister, to young people and learners in schools.
You need strong political acumen and ability to bring different political parties together for a collective endeavour, while fastidiously maintaining the SMP’s party political neutrality.
The SMP has significant leverage across its extensive networks. You will have the opportunity to use this influence and leverage in focused and considered ways, to drive specific strategic objectives in support of the Partnership’s values and charitable purpose.
If you feel that we’ve just described you, and you’re excited by this challenge and the prospect of helping people from across Scotland and Malawi, then we would love to hear from you.
Further information:
This is a full-time appointment of 37.5 hours per week based in Edinburgh and a salary range of £50-60,000 depending on experience. SMP wants its staff to retain a healthy work life balance, by providing flexibility in working hours and blended/hybrid working opportunities for every role.
This is an exciting opportunity for a values-driven Communications and Engagement practitioner to join the Scotland Malawi Partnership to listen to and be led by Malawians, to support and amplify the work of our members and secretariat and provide a respectful, leading voice in the Scottish international development sector.
The post-holder will build on the excellent work of their predecessors to help deliver high quality communications in support of key events as well as continuing to respond to and communicate with the SMP’s membership and other target audiences. We are a close-knit, collaborative team and whilst each individual has their responsibilities for delivery, there is also a strong emphasis on supporting one-another and ‘mucking-in’ where it’s useful.
This role requires a highly motivated, energetic, adaptable and productive individual who has the experience and ability to contribute to a small, fast-paced team. There will be a high degree of autonomy and the successful applicant will be resourceful and eager to contribute to the life and work of a busy team which is both strategic and agile in responding to members’ needs.
Location:The SMP’s office is located at City of Edinburgh Council, Room 3/1, City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1YJ. We have blended office and home-working with the expectation of 3 days per week in the office.
Reporting to:Deputy Chief Executive.
Right to work: Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK through possession of an appropriate visa or residency status.
Overall purpose of role:
To provide and support the SMP with strong, efficient and effective administrative processes within the office, across our membership journey processes and at our (digital and in-person) member events.
Role Description:
This is a valued role at the Scotland Malawi Partnership, as the post ensures the smooth operation of key processes for the SMP as a membership network. First class membership data processes are key in enabling us to understand, support and represent our members’ work with Malawi. The postholder will lead in building upon and using our digital systems for event advertising, event booking, and the smooth running of both digital and in-person events.
In the ‘engine-room’ of the SMP, the post requires an individual who is confident with IT and can think and act practically; building and maintaining office processes which allow the team, and the organisation, to excel.
We are therefore looking to recruit a hard-working, organised, pro-active and responsive team-player to this new and important role in the Partnership; someone with experience in databases and related processes and someone with an eye for detail.
The post-holder will be the first point of contact for most people who engage the Partnership and therefore we require someone with a friendly, professional and engaging manner, someone with a positive, can-do approach who can show initiative and resourcefulness. The Administration and Membership Officer will also be responsible for contributing to and delivering on processes which optimize the entire membership journey and experience for SMP Members.
The post also delivers hands-on office and events administration, and is responsible for the logistics and delivery of many of the SMP’s key events and meetings: securing venues, making arrangements with speakers, guests and key stakeholders, managing bookings and ensuring smooth-running events. These are key aspects of the role.
The SMP prides itself on being an agile organisation able to respond innovatively and effectively to opportunities as they arise, and we are always alert and responsive to the changing needs and priorities of our members. Accordingly, all SMP staff posts involve a degree of flexibility and adaptability, working closely with different colleagues at different times, as specific projects and activities require. Equally, there is naturally some sharing of activities between different team members, offering mutual support within the team though the year.
This role will involve elements of mutual support with colleagues at different times, on different projects. Adaptability and team working are required, as is an eagerness to get stuck in and help whenever needed.
Following fantastic work, inspiring and supporting youth and schools' links between Scotland and Malawi, our brilliant Youth & Schools Officer Luisa is moving on to new opportunities. Applications are now invited for this exciting and dynamic role.
We seek a committed, energetic, engaging new Youth and Schools Officer to continue the Partnership’s outstanding youth and schools’ programme. This is an essential and highly visible part of the Scotland-Malawi relationship, and requires someone who can think innovatively and strategically, work with a high degree of professional autonomy, manage a variety of projects and maintain key professional working relationships across the sector.
The Scotland Malawi Partnership (SMP) is an equal opportunities employer, and we are keen to increase our diversity and inclusivity across all aspects of our organisation. We encourage applications from different backgrounds, especially from the Malawian diaspora community.